Grant program eases high utility costs

The Department of Agriculture is offering $21.9 million in grants to help small businesses and governments in rural areas, such as the Cape and Islands, to cope with rising energy costs.

The High Energy Cost Community Grant Program is administered by the USDA Rural Utilities Service and provides financial assistance for a broad range of energy facilities, equipment and related activities for communities with high energy costs.

In the past, this program has helped communities purchase renewable energy systems such as wind turbines and solar panels, according to a release from the office of U.S. Rep. William Delahunt, D-Mass.

Grants are available and range from $75,000 to $5 million and there is no requirement for cost sharing or matching funds. The average grant award in previous years has been $1.4 million.Applications for grants must be postmarked by Oct. 1. The grant announcement and a paper application is available at http://www.usda.gov/rus/electric. Interested applicants may also submit an online application at http://www.grants.gov